Department: County Engineer
Department Head: Dr. Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV-SP, County Engineer
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Atascocita Complex Infrastructure Improvements
Project ID (if applicable): ATASCOCITA
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Managing Entity: County Engineer
Incremental Authorization Requested: $13,310,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $20,710,000
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Atascocita Complex Infrastructure Improvements project, for an initial authorization of $13,310,000, and request approval of initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $8,350,000.
end
Project Description:
The project includes design and construction of water, wastewater, and drainage improvements and repairs to critical facilities in the Atascocita Complex to further Harris County’s resiliency initiative goals. The Atascocita Complex includes a Harris County Sheriff’s Office Academy, Vehicle Barn, and firing range, a Harris County Public Health building, Harris County Fire Marshal facilities, Precinct facilities, Harris County Community Supervision & Corrections Department facilities, the Pam Lychner State Jail, and other facilities. The project includes the construction of a fire water loop to ensure all existing facilities and active projects on the site meet fire code, the design and construction of water lines to tie all facilities into the City of Houston water system, the design and construction of repairs to the sanitary sewer system, and the design and construction of drainage repairs. There is a potential to be reimbursed by the State for portions of the work. The County Attorney’s Office is investigating.
Project Scope:
Fire Water Loop
The fire water loop will construct a Waterline loop around the current HC facilities with all related infrastructure to ensure sufficient fire capacity for future expansion across the Atascocita Complex.
The Fire Water Loop is nearing design completion, and funding is needed for construction. Phase 1 for the Loop will construct the Loop; no Phase 2 is expected for the Fire Water Loop at this time.
Water System Improvements
The scope of work for the water system improvements includes the construction of a tap into the City of Houston 16-inch water transmission line, a water meter, a backflow preventer, piping, new ground storage tanks, new booster pumps, new chlorination system, replacement of existing undersized piping, and a fire water system that includes fire hydrants, fire water piping, a fire water storage tank, and fire water pumps.
This investment memo is just for Phase 1 - Pre Design, Design and related Fees therein for the Water System Improvements. Phase 2 - Construction will be in a future investment memo.
Wastewater System Improvements
The scope of work for the wastewater system repairs includes rehabilitation of existing manholes and sanitary sewers.
This investment memo is just for Phase 1 - Pre Design, Design, and Immediate Repairs of the Wastewater System Improvements. Phase 2 - Construction will be in a future investment memo.
Drainage Improvements
The scope of work for the drainage repairs includes regrading approximately 32,500 linear feet of ditches, cleaning approximately 1,700 linear feet of culverts, resetting approximately 20 culverts, and repairing an existing detention pond.
This investment memo is just for Phase 1 - Pre Design, Design, and Immediate Maintenance. Phase 2 - Construction will be in a future investment memo.
Atascocita Complex Infrastructure Masterplan
The Atascocita Complex Masterplan will address the multitude of existing and proposed facilities over the entire property to plan the most efficient of all supporting infrastructure on the site infrastructure. This master plan will proceed concurrently with the projects on site to avoid no delays to critical facilities under development while ensuring all current and future projects have adequately sized supporting infrastructure.
Justification:
Fire Water Loop
All facilities within the Atascocita complex have been yellow-tagged for failure to comply with current fire pressures and flow rates; they are functional at previous pressure requirements, but need to be updated as soon as possible. All projects currently in design/construction, and any future projects have been red-tagged for occupancy and cannot be utilized until sufficient pressure and flow rates are supplied to those and current facilities.
Water Improvements
Water is currently being provided to all users, including multiple critical facilities, at the Atascocita Complex by aging water wells and a water plant. Harris County is not currently able to permit any additional wells onsite, which will prevent future expansion at that site. Per the 2004 Ground Water Reduction Plan agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County, Harris County is obligated to reduce its dependence on groundwater at the Atascocita Complex or it will face undefined fees. In addition, the existing ground storage tank has not had maintenance done on it because there is no redundancy in the system. If the tank fails and the water supply is interrupted, the state jail and multiple Harris County detention facilities would be without water service, which would generate violations and cause health issues.
Wastewater Improvements
The main wastewater lift station at the Atascocita Complex sends wastewater to Harris County Municipal Utility District 278. Lift station data has indicated that there is storm water infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. Repairs to the system are needed to minimize groundwater and storm water infiltration. When excessive water goes into the sanitary sewer system, the municipal utility district MUD’s wastewater treatment plant can be overloaded, and violations can occur, which can result in fines and even discontinuation of service. Excessive flows from stormwater infiltration could also flood the sanitary sewer system and cause raw sewage discharge out of the wastewater system and across the complex.
Drainage Improvements
With heavy rains, parking lots and sections of roadway become flooded in the Atascocita Complex. Regarding ditches and cleaning culverts, it is necessary to ensure EMS access to the facilities in a major event. The outfalls and detention basins retain significant amounts of water for multiple days after rain events, which further exacerbates the flooding issues on the site. Initial Minor Improvements are needed now with Pre-Design and Design Services to ensure sufficient drainage to support the facilities there.
Atascocita Infrastructure Masterplan
The Masterplan will provide a strategic road map to future growth, prevent haphazard and/or redundant development, and ensure sufficient capacities are built into the supporting infrastructure on the site. As a comprehensive overview of the complex, it will help guide growth and provide a basis for future budgets and schedule decision-making.
Alternatives and Engagement:
Water Improvements
Replacing the existing water well and water plant was considered, but it is not a feasible alternative due to the likelihood of not being able to obtain the necessary permits due to the Groundwater Reduction Plan. In addition the additional wells needed for future expansion on site would likely not be permitted for the same reason.
Wastewater Improvements
Commissioners Court could separate this item into its own project or delay this item to a later court. However, with the flood season starting, it is advisable to make minor improvements and start designing major improvements post haste.
Drainage Improvements
An alternative would be to separate this to each individual project rather than a major item. This would likely lead to the same issues we currently see on site in which we make minor upgrades but cannot address holistic issues due to other upstream or downstream improvements needed that would otherwise be caught in a larger master planned project.
Atascocita Infrastructure Masterplan
Lack of a comprehensive infrastructure masterplan could lead to improper or inefficient buildout of the property, as well as insufficient capacities within the supporting infrastructure.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Scope of Work |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Water: City of Houston Impact Fee - Phase 1 |
$4,500,000 |
3Q2024 |
|
Water: Fire Water Loop (Construction) - Phase 1 |
$4,500,000 |
2Q2025 |
|
Water: Connection to City of Houston and Water Plant (Professional Services) - Phase 1 |
$2,400,000 |
2Q2025 |
|
Drainage Infrastructure and Basin Repairs - Phase 1 |
$1,000,000 |
2Q2025 |
|
Wastewater: Manhole and Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation - Phase 1 |
$200,000 |
1Q2025 |
|
Atascocita Master Plan - Phase 1 |
$250,000 |
4Q2024 |
|
Contingency - Phase 1 |
$460,000 |
3Q2025 |
|
Total |
$13,310,000 |
|
Anticipated Project Expenditures for Phase 2 Services (Future Ask) - $7,400,000
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
_ Transportation
X Flooding
X Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Previous Court Action:
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Address: Entrance address to complex - 2310 Atascocita Road, Humble, TX 77396
Precinct(s): Precinct 3
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Total Current Budget |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
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$8,350,000 |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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$8,350,000 |
$8,350,000 |
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Total Funding Request |
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$8,350,000 |
$8,350,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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Anticipated Court Date: June 25, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, 6/27/2024
Department Approval by: Ross Hosket P.E., CFM, ENV-SP (Interim) Director of Capital Projects Facilities, Harris County Engineering Department
OMB CIP Team Approval by: Amiel Chen, OMB, 6/17/2024.
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: TBD
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D-2 can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Atascocita Complex Infrastructure Improvements project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget